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Sleeping Habits in Infants

The first few weeks of your newborn's life are exhausting -- for both you and the newborn. Don't worry, better days are ahead. Sleeping habits of infants change as the months progress, and it's helpful to know what to expect. Understanding the sleep habits of your infant and using techniques to help them sleep will make the situation better for everyone involved.

  1. Birth to 3 Months

    • Infants normally sleep 14 to 18 hours the first week and 12 to 16 hours by the end of the first month, typically sleeping in two to four hour increments. When infants reach 6 to 8 weeks of age, they start sleeping less during the day and more during the evening. However, it is normal for infants to wake up for an evening feeding.

    3 to 7 Months

    • Infants will typically sleep 12 to 15 hours per day and awaken less often for night feeding once they reach 3 months of age. They will often take a nap in the morning and another in the afternoon. The amount of time they sleep at night will have lengthened to seven or eight hours. The latter part of this period is a good time to establish a set bedtime routine that will help them develop good sleeping habits.

    8 to 12 Months

    • Infants this age typically sleep 13 to 14 hours per day. They will still likely take two naps during the day, but the duration of the naps is likely to be longer. These daytime naps will help reduce nighttime fussiness. Separation anxiety may appear as children get closer to 1 year of age. Children will become upset when left in the crib at bedtime or after waking up during the night and realizing they are alone.

    Sleep Safety

    • Don't let your baby sleep in your bed with you. According to KidsHealth.org there is a very high risk of suffocation or strangulation. Remove anything from the crib that could interfere with the infant's breathing, including pillows, blankets and toys. Position healthy infants on their backs, rather than their stomachs, to avoid the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

    Tips

    • Helping infants to interact with their environment during the day will enable them to sleep better at night. Talk to your baby and play with him as much as possible during his waking hours to tire him out.

      Keep the lights low and speak in a soft voice during nighttime feedings and diaper changings. This will increase the likelihood of the baby returning to sleep.

      Use a pacifier if your infant has difficulty falling asleep. Avoid overstimulating the baby prior to bedtime with play. Reading or soothing activities can signal bedtime to the child.

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